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UN welcomes UK's pledge to admit 'most vulnerable' Syrians

The UN Refugee Agency in the UK has welcomed the Government's plans to provide refuge to hundreds of the "most vulnerable" Syrians. But Britain is not signing up to a quota under the UN sanctuary scheme.

Tory MP accuses Cameron of 'posturing' over refugees

A Tory backbencher accused David Cameron of "pure political posturing and tokenism". Credit: PA

David Cameron has been accused of "political posturing" after the Government confirmed plans to accept "several hundred" of the most vulnerable refugees from the Syrian conflict in a bid to head off a damaging backbench revolt.

The change of heart by the coalition - confirmed by Home Secretary Theresa May in a Commons statement ahead of an opposition day debate on the issue - was broadly welcomed by MPs on all sides of the House.

Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen said Britain had already donated £600 million - more than the rest of the EU put together - and that admitting a few hundred people would make little difference to such a vast refugee crisis.

"It is pure political posturing and tokenism. I think that people can see the political expediency of the u-turn," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.